Trains In Philippines

Trains in the Philippines

Trains in the greater Manila area

Fastest way to travel in Metro Manila. Clean and attractive rail cars. Polite passengers. Seats designated in each car for elderly, disabled and pregnant women.

To use the train system one must be in good physical condition since there are many stairs to climb and descend. Number of stair flights differ at different stations. Some stations have elevators, (Libertad, Magallanes, and Ayala (possibly others).

The US State Department web site advises Americans not to ride trains, buses, jeepneys or tricycles.
I have ridden all of them many times in 5 years. Have never had a bad experience in the stations or on the trains.

Near the front of the train there are usually two cars for female passengers. They may be accompanied by a child or children and a male friend or relative. There is a guard at their boarding area on the platform.

Click on map to enlarge this train route map for Metro Manila area.

See a large map of the LRTA rail system at the official site of the Light Rail Transit Authority.

See the LRTA fare schedule.

Visit the Facebook page of the Philippine National Railway for fare schedules, more information and pictures.

I plan to include video of a train approaching the Edsa station.

Near Taft Avenue MRT train station at Edsa in Metro Manila.
Travel West on Edsa by bus or taxi from here to the Mall of Asia.
Ask anyone where to stand to get a bus or taxi to Mall of Asia.

According to an article in the news on Dec.29, 2013, it looks like the re-opening of the Bicol Express is delayed again. It runs from Manila to Legazpi.

Update from Wikipedia: 

"As of September 2013, operations to the Bicol Region have been suspended.^[1] This is primarily because of typhoon damage to bridges. The PNR hoped to reopen the Bicol Express Service by about September 2014;^[16] however, as of April 2015 services had still not been resumed."

Update January 2024: 

Bicol PNR Naga-Legazpi train route: Schedules, fares, and more

From Naga to Legaspi

Update March 2024:

See PNR shutdown schedule.

Shutting down for 3 months in 2024.

Update April 3, 2024

PNR trains on halted Metro line moving to S. Luzon, Bicol routes.

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about trains, Naga to Legaspi train, LRT, MRT and Bicol Express trains in Metro Manila, Philippines. This page last updated April 3, 2024.

Wages In Philippines?

Wages in the Philippines

Wages in the Philippines

Hiring local tradesmen and workers in the Philippines.

Sales clerks in department stores make about Pesos 300 per day or about $7.40 US (as of Feb. 22, 2013.)

We have, on several occasions, hired local workmen to work for us.
These people were all self employed. I provided rough drawings I had sketched. All the wood was cut by hand and assembled and installed without the use of power tools.

In Metro Manila we had the following work done in our 40 square meter family home.

To build shelving above the counter in the kitchen (Pesos 6,000 or $147 US.)

To build shelving in a bedroom (Pesos 6,000 or $147 US.)

To install plywood ceiling panels throughout the house and install 4 ceiling light fixtures (Pesos 15,000 or $368 US.)

To tear out and replace the wood frame wall and windows of the front of the house (Pesos 12,000 or $295 US.)

To install a small bathroom with a shower in the house (Pesos 25,000 or $614 US.)

To wire brush, prime and paint the metal roof with white acrylic latex roofing paint (Pesos 2,500 or 61.50 US.)

At our apartment outside of Angeles City we hired a man to hang our Christmas lights outside above a car park and on the metal gates (Pesos 300 or $7.40 US.)

Currency exchange based on rates as of Feb. 21, 2013.

Do you need a caregiver in the Philippines? See this page about "how much does a caregiver make in the Philippines."

Here is a page listing wages for various occupations in the Philippines.

Check out this page to see monthly wages and expenses for more occupations.

Check out this Reality Check Chart featured at "When in Manila dot com." This is where your hard-earned salary goes.

Do you have information about other wages in the Philippines? Please share with readers by entering your comments below.

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If you have found this article helpful, have suggestions, advice or insights please "comment" below.

This article will be expanded upon. Pictures will be added soon. Please check back for more information about wages and salaries and about hiring local tradesmen in the Philippines. This page updated June 4, 2022.